The 25 Best FromSoftware Bosses

FromSoftware: A Pantheon of Bosses – Ranking the 25 Greatest Encounters

FromSoftware has redefined action RPGs, crafting unforgettable journeys through dark and wondrous realms. While their level and lore design are unparalleled, their enduring legacy rests on their bosses: brutally challenging, often terrifying adversaries that push players to their limits. For their latest, Elden Ring Nightreign, a roguelike co-op title, FromSoftware doubles down on boss encounters, presenting players with increasingly difficult challenges in each playthrough. This includes returning favorites from the Dark Souls series, such as the formidable Nameless King.

This isn't a difficulty ranking; it's a celebration of the greatest FromSoftware boss fights across the "Soulsborne" series (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Demon's Souls, and the Dark Souls trilogy). We evaluated challenge, music, setting, mechanics, lore significance, and more. Here are our top 25:

25. Old Monk (Demon's Souls)

The Old Monk ingeniously integrates PvP. Instead of a standard AI, another player can control him, making the challenge variable but effectively reminding players of the ever-present threat of online invasions, even during boss fights.

24. Old Hero (Demon's Souls)

Demon's Souls' puzzle-like bosses are fascinating. Old Hero, a blind ancient warrior, relies on sound, transforming the fight into a stealth-like experience. While not difficult, its unique mechanics foreshadowed later bosses like Rennala (Elden Ring) and the Folding Screen Monkeys (Sekiro).

23. Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King)

Dragons are often formidable, but early iterations felt like prototypes. Sinh elevates the dragon encounter, setting a new standard for epic, terrifying dragon fights in a poisonous cavern, accompanied by powerful music.

22. Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos (Bloodborne)

Ebrietas embodies Bloodborne's Lovecraftian horror. A monstrous being central to the Healing Church's lore, her attacks, including cosmic energy blasts and Frenzy-inducing blood, perfectly capture the game's themes.

21. Fume Knight (Dark Souls 2)

Arguably Dark Souls 2's hardest boss, the Fume Knight’s blend of speed and power, utilizing dual weapons and a fiery greatsword, makes for a challenging yet incredibly engaging fight.

20. Bayle the Dread (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree)

Already a challenging boss in a challenging DLC, Bayle the Dread is elevated by the inclusion of the NPC ally Igon, whose intense hatred for the dragon adds another layer to the already thrilling battle.

19. Father Gascoigne (Bloodborne)

A crucial early-game challenge, Father Gascoigne teaches players essential skills like environmental awareness, controlled aggression, and gun parrying, vital for later encounters.

18. Starscourge Radahn (Elden Ring)

Radahn's massive scale and the ability to summon numerous NPC allies create an unforgettable, epic battle culminating in a spectacular, world-altering moment.

17. Great Grey Wolf Sif (Dark Souls)

Sif's fight is emotionally resonant, guarding Artorias' grave, adding a layer of moral ambiguity and showcasing FromSoftware's nuanced storytelling.

16. Maliketh, the Black Blade (Elden Ring)

Maliketh's relentless aggression, especially in his second phase, makes for a high-intensity fight demanding precise memorization of attack patterns.

15. Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3)

Visually striking and mechanically unique, the Dancer's erratic attacks and unusual animations make for a consistently unpredictable and challenging fight.

14. Genichiro Ashina (Sekiro)

Genichiro's memorable fight, especially the epic rematch atop Ashina Castle, tests players' mastery of Sekiro's core parry and deflect mechanics.

13. Owl (Father) (Sekiro)

A brutal and emotionally charged encounter, the fight against Owl is one of Sekiro's most aggressive and challenging, utilizing various gadgets and a spectral owl for teleportation.

Honorable Mention: Armored Core 6

• AA P07 Balteus: A fast and challenging gatekeeper.
• IA-02: Ice Worm: A cinematic battle utilizing allied NPCs and off-screen weaponry.
• IB-01: CEL 240: A dramatic fight with a rapid-fire second phase.

12. Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls 3)

The final boss of Dark Souls 3, the Soul of Cinder embodies the essence of the series, fighting with a diverse array of styles and recreating Gwyn's moveset in its second phase.

11. Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3: Ashes of Ariandel)

A punishing three-phase fight against Sister Friede and Father Ariandel, demanding incredible endurance and precision.

10. Orphan of Kos (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Orphan of Kos is a terrifyingly fast and aggressive boss with unpredictable combos and grotesque attacks.

9. Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elden Ring)

Malenia's challenging two-phase fight, featuring her deadly Waterfowl Dance, and her Rot-infused second form, has become a cultural phenomenon.

8. Guardian Ape (Sekiro)

Comically grotesque yet brutally challenging, the Guardian Ape's surprise second phase after a seemingly successful execution is a memorable twist.

7. Knight Artorias (Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss)

Artorias' tragic backstory and challenging, fast-paced fight make him a memorable and significant encounter.

6. Nameless King (Dark Souls 3)

A two-phase fight featuring a dragon mount and a thrilling ground duel, the Nameless King is a visually spectacular and musically exceptional encounter.

5. Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough (Dark Souls)

The iconic two-on-one fight that established the template for many subsequent double boss encounters, with a challenging twist after one boss is defeated.

4. Ludwig, The Accursed/Holy Blade (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Ludwig's complex fight, with evolving movesets and a large number of attacks, demands mastery of Bloodborne's fast-paced combat.

3. Slave Knight Gael (Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City)

A mythical and challenging final boss fight, with a powerful second phase and a story deeply intertwined with the Dark Souls lore.

2. Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters)

Lady Maria's technically masterful duel, with its escalating intensity and use of blood powers, makes for a memorable and emotionally resonant encounter.

1. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro)

Isshin, a four-phase fight showcasing Sekiro's combat system at its finest, is a perfectly paced and elegant duel demanding mastery of every skill learned throughout the game.

This ranking is subjective. What are your favorite FromSoftware boss fights? Let us know!